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Growing Tomatoes

Too late to start tomato seeds?

14 years ago

Hey everyone! Awhile ago all was well in the gardening world, the birds were singing, the sun was out, and it was unusually warm so I took my tomato seedlings out to get some sun. But then (dramatic music) I forget them outside OVER NIGHT!!! Unfortunately, this story doesn't have a happy ending. Those tomato seedlings are hopefully in a better place now...lol.So, I was wondering if it's not to late to try and grow more tomatoes from seed?! Should I fork out the money and buy some plants? What do you guys think? - michael(larkspur212)

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Comments (6)

helenh
14 years ago
No it isn't too late. It will be a month before they can be safely planted outside anyway unless you use protection. My average last frost date is mid April but I am not really safe from frost until after the 1st week in May. You have time to get some plants started. You might grab three or four plants from a store to have some early tomatoes but you will not be far behind with your seedlings. The plants in stores are sold too early. I saw tender flowering plants, herbs like basil and tomatoes for sale at Lowe's today - they need warm weather and warm nights which I don't get until May.
cyrus_gardner
14 years ago
You should contact a country musician to write a song about those tomatoes. lol

But seriously, it is not too late to start seeds inside.
But you need real warmth and lots of light for them to
germinate and grow fast.

Then as you mentioned, just fork out the money, and buy yourself
some plants, if you are not looking for some rare varietie.
Cyrus
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If your last frost date is May 15, you're still at 4 wks before. Thats a little later than optimum but not undo-able. I think as far as seedlings go, much better a little late than far to early. If you start them right away, give them some heat to get them germinated quickly. Most of mine germinated in 2-6 days with a heating mat. I would not do any varieties this year that you know take longer to germinate. (Black Cherry took nearly 2 weeks, next year I'll plant it a week before others) Since the weather is alread starting to warm you should be able to get them out into sunlight while they are young. I would not wait for them to catch up in size with ones that were planted weeks earlier, I would get the young plants out when you think the weather is safe (when you would have put them out if you had started them a few weeks earlier). They will probably catch up and then pass plants that were planted too early, got spindly and then planted out. Good luck and good gardening, Mary
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Post this question on the very active Arizona forum. They will have the answer for you. I do know that some people plant tomato plants in Arizona in February, since I go there at that time, so I bet you'd be OK starting them now.
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Nope, not in your location (assuming you aren't up in the mountains) you still have time to get seedlings in the ground by first week in Sept. and that gives you 90+ days. Use some short DTM varieties. Alternative - if you have plants now use cuttings from them. All explained over on the Growing Tomatoes forum here. Dave
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For what it is worth, at the Etowah County Master Gardeners sale on April 12 and 13, we will have transplants of a number of tomato heirlooms for sale for $2 each. I cannot remember the entire list, but you can e-mail me at mosasaur47@msn.com and ask if we have a specific one. I know we will have Cherokee Purple, Black Krim, and Brandywine. Isn't Homestead also an heirloom? Definitely not too late to start seeds. Plus, a number of mail order places offer express processing for additional charge.
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dancinglemons
14 years ago
I'm a bit south of you in zone 7 and I just started my tomato seeds on Monday (4 days ago). I have them in huge 4 inch tall jiffy pellets on a heat mat and under 14 hour flourescent T8 6500K shop light. They have all sprouted and I hope to get them ready by May 1 to put in the EarthBoxes. I think starting from seed is better and I can't find plants for the tomatoes I like to grow.

You should be totally OK in zone 6.

Cheers,
DL
larkspur212
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks guys! :) this website is so0o cool cause I get to get gr8 advice from you guys!!! Hopefully, take two with tomatoes will go better...thanks again!!! -michael(larkspur212)
timmy1
14 years ago
Take 2 will be better anyway.

Tomatoes are 6 week indoor crop.

Back up 6 weeks from your set out date, and your right on!

90% of my seeds will go in on April 8-10th.
star_stuff
14 years ago
I am a bit warmer than you here in zone 7, and just started my seeds last week.

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